List of obsolete technology

This is a list of obsolete technology, superseded by newer technologies. Obsolescence is defined as the "transition from available to unavailable from the manufacturer in accordance with the original specification."[1] Newer technologies can mostly be considered as disruptive innovation. Many older technologies co-exist with newer alternatives, or are still in use due to cost, convenience, personal preference or availability. Some people still use their existing CD collections or their old functional equipment. Some prefer the sound of vinyl records. Specialist or niche applications use technology that may have become commercially obsolete, like the vacuum tube. Historical societies may maintain a working knowledge of old machines.

Not to be confused with List of lost inventions.

Most experimental creations and conceptions, particularly in early development of technologies, like that of steam power, have also never been recorded. Technologies that were never successfully developed, may have disappeared completely.[2] These are not contained in the following list. Also not included are spurious inventions - technologies which are generally considered to not possess their claimed capabilities, to be hoaxes, or to not have ever existed in the first place.

Obsolete technology Replacement Still used for
Bathing machine No longer required due to changing social standards of morality
Hourglass Clock Tasks where a fixed amount of time can be measured with a low-tech solution: Exposure time tracker in saunas (where electronics might be damaged by the heat or ultraviolet light), retro kitchen timers, board games
Manual vacuum cleaner, carpet sweeper Electric vacuum cleaner Carpet sweepers are sometimes used in commercial applications (like movie theatres) where the noise of an electric vacuum is unwelcome
Primitive Fire making Ferrocerium, Match, Lighter Practiced as backup survival skills if advanced methods unavailable.
Quill pen, reed pen, dip pen, fountain pen Ballpoint pen Calligraphy, personal preference
Sundial Clock Occasionally seen as a decoration in gardens and other outdoor settings.
Outhouse Flush Toilets, Sanitary sewers, Portable toilet, Chemical toilet Remote or undeveloped locations far from sewage systems.
Swamp cooler Air conditioning Dry climates, lower cost alternative
Lighting
Incandescent light bulbs Fluorescent lamps, cold cathode lamps, high-intensity discharge lamp, LEDs Specialty purposes; mandatory phase-out of incandescent light bulbs is happening in some countries. LEDs are also gradually replacing compact fluorescent lamps.
Moonlight towers Distributed street lighting
Producing light with fire. Early: candles, torches. Later: kerosene lamps, fuel-based lanterns, and gas light Flashlights, electric lights Torches sometimes used for performance purposes. Coleman Lanterns and similar are sometimes used for camping, but battery-powered lanterns are becoming more common. Gas lighting is still used for street lighting in some historic districts, but not indoors due to toxic emissions. Candles are still used for aesthetic purposes. Gas and fuel based lanterns as well as candles may also be used to generate light in addition to flashlights during power outages.
Kitchens and cooking
Icebox Refrigerator Portable cooler boxes are still used for camping.
Open hearth cooking Kitchen stoves, ovens, barbecue grills, various small appliances Historical recreations
Toasting fork (for use with open flame to make toast) Toaster, toaster oven Camping
Turnspit dog Steam power, wind-up power, electrical power Extinct
Audiovisual communication
Audio cassette, cassette player, Walkman Compact disc, MP3, MP3 player Playing historical or archived recordings
Analog television Digital television Mandatory digital television transition has been underway around the world since the 2000s
Betamax Lost a format war to VHS Playing historical recordings
Cathode ray tube Flatscreen Retrogaming
Compact disc, CD player, Discman MP3, MP3 player, USB stick Playing historical recordings and personal preference
HD DVD Lost format war to Blu-ray Playback of historical recordings
Dial-up Internet access Broadband Internet Still used in rural or remote areas
LaserDisc Compact disks, DVDs, and Blu-ray Playback of historical recordings
Overhead projector and slide projector Video projector Historical viewings
Phonograph and phonograph record Audio cassette, 8 track tape, compact disc, MP3 Vinyl revival
Telegraph Telephone, teletype, email, Global Maritime Distress and Safety System Revived as text messaging
Video cassette recorder DVDs, digital video recorders Playback of historical recordings
Computing, information storage, and office equipment
BlackBerry physical keyboards smartphones have keyboards displayed on the touchscreen when necessary Tasks that requires physical keyboards
Carbon paper Photocopier, cheap printing of multiple copies Still used by some enterprises
Credit card imprinters, with carbon paper Magnetic stripe cards, EMV (chips)
Dot-matrix impact printing Inkjet printer, laser printer Still used in some enterprises, especially for old carbon paper forms
Faxes Email, World Wide Web Still used by some enterprises
Mimeograph Photocopier, cheap printing of multiple copies
Pager Cell phones Still used in certain industries, especially in the medical industry
Paper address book, Rolodex Contact list, electronic address book
Paper card catalogs, edge-notched cards Computer databases
Paper data storage for computers (punch cards, punched tape) Magnetic data storage
Paper ledger Computerized spreadsheets and databases
Paper map GPS-aided map software Still used as navigational aids in numerous professions
Personal digital assistant (PDA) Modern smartphones and tablet computers
Phone book Search engine and online databases Yellow pages are still distributed for advertising purposes
Pneumatic tubes for moving documents and postal items Electronic communication, mechanized surface vehicles Transport of physical items in hospitals and factories, scientific applications; Possible revival as a means of high-speed transportation
Typewriter Word processor Still used by some writers being deliberately low-tech
Slide rule, mechanical calculator Electronic calculator, computer
Vacuum tube Transistor Vacuum tubes are still used in microwave ovens, RF communications and radar, high power industrial switching such as in pulsed lasers and generation of x-rays. They have found niche popularity in more expensive guitar amplifiers and hi-fi power amplifiers.
Transport
Airships Airplanes, helicopters; Project Loon replaced by cellular networks and land-based Internet services Advertising, adventures, research, long-duration surveillance
Boneshaker, penny-farthing bicycle Safety bicycle (early version of the modern bicycle) Historical re-enactment
Buggy whip Automobiles do not require them Horse transport for novelty purposes, and for utility in developing countries and Amish communities
Carburetor Fuel injection Small engine equipment and piston engine aircraft
Celestial navigation with lunar distance method and dead reckoning Marine chronometer to solve the longitude problem
Celestial navigation with sextant and marine chronometer Inertial guidance, radio navigation, radar navigation, satellite navigation Backup in case of electronic system failure or jamming, spaceflight where satellite and ground-based systems can't be used
Cobblestone Concrete, asphalt Still used in historic districts
Draft animals for plows, carriages, light rail vehicles, canal boats Motorized boats, tractors, steam railroads, electric trolleys, cable cars, horseless carriages (automobiles) Sled dogs in arctic regions of North American and Greenland. Horse-drawn carriages are recreational attractions in some highly developed cities
Steam locomotive Diesel locomotive, electric locomotive Still used for historical heritage railways
Steam tractor, or steam Traction engine Internal combustion powered Tractor Maintained by preservation societies and for historical demonstrations; steam turbines
Marine steam engine and steamship Marine diesel engines, nuclear marine propulsion, aircraft for long-distance passenger travel
Ocean liner Airliners and jet airliners The RMS Queen Mary 2 is still in service as an ocean liner
Pack animals Trucks and vans In developed countries, only in difficult terrain with no roads (e.g. Grand Canyon)
Roman concrete Reinforced concrete
Military
Early siege engines (siege towers, battering rams, catapults, ballistae, trebuchets) Artillery, aircraft
Forts, defensive walls, castles Vulnerable to air attack, useless to prevent the advance of aircraft Limited use of underground bunkers and civilian air raid shelters
Gunpowder Smokeless powder, high explosives, dynamite, ANFO Recreational shooting, historical reenactments
Muzzleloader firearms Breech-loading weapons Historical re-enactments
Spear Firearms Bayonets, spear fishing
Sword Firearms Issued for ceremonial purposes to NCOs and upwards
Medicine
Anatomical Machines Modern anatomical models
Iron lung Ventilator Cheap substitutes in case of shortages during an outbreak or pandemic
Art
Han purple and Han blue Other pigments, synthetic dyes

Co-existence

Older technologies substantially co-existing with newer technologies include:

  • Analog watches are still widely used for reasons of fashion and personal preference despite the availability of digital watches which can be made much lighter and with smart watch capabilities.
  • CDs are still used in addition to MP3 players, however Smartphones with apps such as Spotify are more commonly used.
  • DVDs have not been displaced by Blu-rays
  • Fireplaces are still used for primary heat in some houses in developed countries, though furnaces, electric heat, and other modern HVAC systems are less polluting, can be better controlled, and can also provide cooling.
  • Ferry travel has not been completely displaced by bridgess, tunnels and airplanes
  • Fords are still used for rural roads, though bridges have replaced them for most roads in most developed countries
  • Hammers have not been displaced by nail guns
  • Hot water bottles continue to be used along with electric blankets and heating pads.
  • Landline telephones are still used, despite the advent of mobile phones, although majorly for people who may struggle with modern technology.
  • Long-distance travel by railroads and highway has to some degree been displaced by airplane, but not entirely - especially in countries adopting high-speed rail
  • Postal mail continues to be used alongside email, but with substantial decreases in personal correspondence outside of special occasions, due to the availability of text messages and email
  • Pneumatic tubes for passenger transport have been used in atmospheric railway to provide motive power, like a cable car system. Vactrain systems, where the entire passenger compartment travels through an evacuated tube, never became operational, but are still being investigated for high-speed transport.
  • Shields co-exist with bulletproof vests, and are used by riot police. Lighter-weight and stronger materials are available compared to ancient wooden and bronze shields, including clear plastic shields and bulletproof shields mounted on firing platforms.

See also

This list is by no means complete. Also look at the following:

References
  1. IEC 62402:2019 Obsolescence Management - published 15 July 2019 ISBN 978 0 580 96776 4
  2. "Lost Inventions". Scientific American. Vol. 3, no. 35. 20 May 1848. p. 278.
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